Common
06-14-2018, 10:38 AM
Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified information is getting another look with the release Thursday of a Justice Department inspector general report scrutinizing the FBI's investigation into whether she committed crimes using a private email server as secretary of state.
Although it would be controversial, the Justice Department is able to reopen (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/experts-say-trump-justice-department-could-reopen-rigged-clinton-probe-but-it-wouldnt-be-easy) the Clinton email case, and experts say President Trump's 2016 adversary arguably could be charged until March 2025 — after Trump would leave office even if he wins a second term.
Sloppy workers, leakers, whistleblowers, and spies face a variety of criminal charges for mishandling classified records. But there are leading options available to prosecutors, with varying statutes of limitations.
One law, 18 U.S. Code § 1924 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1924), forbids “unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material.” It carries up to five years in prison, with a five-year statute of limitations. Former CIA contractor Reynaldo Regis pleaded guilty (https://www.scribd.com/document/381745999/Reynaldo-Regis-Guilty-Plea) in May to violating the law by taking home (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/ex-cia-contractor-pleads-guilty-to-taking-classified-information-home) about 60 notebooks with classified information. There's no allegation he shared them.
Former CIA Director David Petraeus also pleaded guilty (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-justice-department-criminal-charges-against-david-petraeus) under this law in 2015 after sharing highly classified information with his mistress and biographer.
But prosecutors favor the more severe 18 U.S. Code § 793 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/part-I/chapter-37), which is part of the notoriously tough Espionage Act. The law restricts possession or retention of information “relating to the national defense" and carries a possible 10 years in prison, with a 10-year statute of limitations.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/hillary-clinton-emails-could-still-face-charges
Although it would be controversial, the Justice Department is able to reopen (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/experts-say-trump-justice-department-could-reopen-rigged-clinton-probe-but-it-wouldnt-be-easy) the Clinton email case, and experts say President Trump's 2016 adversary arguably could be charged until March 2025 — after Trump would leave office even if he wins a second term.
Sloppy workers, leakers, whistleblowers, and spies face a variety of criminal charges for mishandling classified records. But there are leading options available to prosecutors, with varying statutes of limitations.
One law, 18 U.S. Code § 1924 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1924), forbids “unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material.” It carries up to five years in prison, with a five-year statute of limitations. Former CIA contractor Reynaldo Regis pleaded guilty (https://www.scribd.com/document/381745999/Reynaldo-Regis-Guilty-Plea) in May to violating the law by taking home (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/ex-cia-contractor-pleads-guilty-to-taking-classified-information-home) about 60 notebooks with classified information. There's no allegation he shared them.
Former CIA Director David Petraeus also pleaded guilty (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-justice-department-criminal-charges-against-david-petraeus) under this law in 2015 after sharing highly classified information with his mistress and biographer.
But prosecutors favor the more severe 18 U.S. Code § 793 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/part-I/chapter-37), which is part of the notoriously tough Espionage Act. The law restricts possession or retention of information “relating to the national defense" and carries a possible 10 years in prison, with a 10-year statute of limitations.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/hillary-clinton-emails-could-still-face-charges